-LRB- CNN -RRB- Everywhere you look there are two-wheeled drivers waiting ominously for passengers to hop on board . They 're the backbone of public transport in Uganda and the fastest way to get around the capital city , Kampala . The boda boda motorbike taxi is a staple used by all sectors of society .

Traditionally , the usual way of catching a ride was to venture into any street corner packed with tens of boda bodas or simply waiting for one to pass by .

But now , a new local startup are bringing this classic mode of transport into the technological age by providing the ability to hail a boda boda at the click of a smartphone .

`` Bodas are the main thing getting people from A to B , '' says Alastair Sussock , co-founder of SafeBoda , `` and we 're trying to professionalize this transportation in the city . ''

The motorbike taxis have their greatest popularity globally in Uganda , with over 80,000 riding the streets of Kampala , according to Sussex who wants to seize upon the country 's burgeoning young population . Uganda has more than 24 % of the population aged between 10 and 19 years old , according to UNICEF -- and Sussock wants them to get on their bikes .

`` Young people use smartphones in Kampala and it 's one of the youngest countries in the world , '' he says .

For now , the Uber-like startup operates mainly in the northern districts of Kampala , where a click on the SafeBoda app -- in addition to the traditional method of hailing them on the street -- will bring you a Safeboda bike , complete with a uniformed driver in a bright orange jacket , helmet and fully trained in road safety . He 'll even have a helmet for you .

Safety has long been a concern for those riding boda bodas as the bikes are a leading cause of death and head injury in Kampala . A study conducted at Mulago National Referral Hospital in Kampala , by researchers at Makerere University , identified approximately 40 % of trauma cases at the hospital to be due to boda-boda accidents .

I request a SafeBoda to take me to meet the team in the upmarket area of Kisementi , in Kampala 's central district . As i stand waiting , at least 10 regular boda bodas pass by beeping to get my attention and business . A driver called Richard Lalunga then arrives who I spot clearly in the distance thanks to his bright orange jacket and orange helmets -- one on his head and one on his handlebars .

Lalunga has been a boda driver for four years and joined SafeBoda four months ago to learn more about road safety . He explains how he now earns more than ever before due to a loyal customer base stemming from his safe driving . The ride was in fact calmer than those taken with other bodas , and unlike some , as we ride along the congested streets no kerbs were scaled or mounted to avoid the traffic . The name stands - safeboda .

The dangers lie in the low use of helmets -- by both drivers and users -- alongside risky driving and poor road safety practices . This makes many fearful of catching a two-wheeled ride but the team at SafeBoda are trying to lure people back on board . They 're reinventing the boda boda reputation to prove they can be safe , as well as fast and economical .

`` It 's a market-based approach to road safety , '' says Sussock , an economist , who believes that as word spreads about the skills of his drivers , the income -- and safety -- of his drivers will rise and reflect this .

`` People in Uganda do n't wear helmets , '' says Sussock . `` So how do we get them to wear helmets ? '' The answer , is by providing one .

Driver training is provided in partnership with the Ugandan Red Cross and takes place for up to three weeks to cover road safety and bike maintenance -- and it seems to be working .

Since its inception in November 2014 , the fleet of drivers at SafeBoda has reached 50 , currently occupying four areas towards the north and center of the city . The main need for safe driving is in the congested streets of downtown Kampala where the company plans to expand into next .

`` If we train people and make them good and responsible drivers , we 're going to save lives , '' says Ricky Rapa Thomson , who manages the drivers . `` But implementing has been a challenge , '' he says about the difficulties in changing the mindsets of a population .

The team are dreaming big , with plans to expand to 100 by the end of March and 800 by the end of 2015 . `` With over 1,000 drivers we can begin to change the entire boda industry , '' says Sussock .

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Ugandan start-up SafeBoda are changing the face of boda-boda motorbike taxis

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A click of their app brings you a bike complete with a safety trained driver and protective gear